本研究基于 Hertzsprung SONG 望远镜对两颗单线 RS CVn 双星 IM Peg 和 $σ$ Gem 的高分辨率光谱观测，利用光谱减除技术分析色球活动指示线，揭示了两者活跃程度差异及活动经度演化，并解释了 H$_α$ 谱线不对称性的物质流机制。
摘要：
我们展示了对两颗长周期单线 RS Canum Venaticorum (RS CVn) 双星 IM Pegasi (IM Peg) 和 $σ$ Geminorum ($σ$ Gem) 连续高分辨率光谱观测的研究，观测是在 2015-2016 观测季使用 Hertzsprung SONG 望远镜获得的。利用光谱减除技术分析了色球活动指示线 H$_α$、Na I D$_{1}$、D$_{2}$ 双线、He I D$_{3}$ 和 H$_β$ 谱线。在 H$_α$、Na I D$_{1}$、D$_{2}$ 双线和 H$_β$ 谱线中预期的色球发射特征证实，这两颗恒星都是非常活跃的系统。在光谱中，He I D$_{3}$ 谱线总是被探测到处于吸收特征。尽管两颗恒星的色球活动指示线行为非常相似，但 IM Peg 的活动水平远强于 $σ$ Gem。此外，H$_α$、He I D$_{3}$ 和 H$_β$ 谱线减除的 EW 变化具有良好的相关性，并在不同轨道周期中表现出不同行为，这表明两颗恒星表面存在活动经度及其演化。此外，减除后的 H$_α$ 谱线轮廓通常是不对称的。红移的超额吸收特征可以解释为冷吸收物质的强烈下流，而蓝移的发射成分可能是由微耀斑事件中热物质的上流引起的。
英文摘要：
We present the study on continuous high-resolution spectroscopic observations of two long-period single-lined RS Canum Venaticorum (RS CVn) binary stars IM Pegasi (IM Peg) and $σ$ Geminorum ($σ$ Gem), obtained with the Hertzsprung SONG telescope during the 2015-2016 season. Chromospheric activity indicators H$_α$, Na I D$_{1}$, D$_{2}$ doublet, He I D$_{3}$, and H$_β$ lines have been analyzed by using the spectral subtraction technique. The expected chromospheric emission features in the H$_α$, Na I D$_{1}$, D$_{2}$ doublet, and H$_β$ lines confirm that both of two stars are very active systems. In the spectra, the He I D$_{3}$ line had been always detected in absorption feature. Although the behavior of chromospheric activity indicators is very similar for both stars, the activity level of IM Peg is much stronger than that of $σ$ Gem. Moreover, the EW variations of the H$_α$, He I D$_{3}$, and H$_β$ line subtractions correlate well and show different behavior among different orbital cycles, which indicates the presence and evolution of activity longitudes over the surface of two stars. Furthermore, the subtracted H$_α$ line profile is usually asymmetric. The red-shifted excess absorption features could be interpreted as a strong down-flow of cool absorbing material, while the blue-shifted emission component is probably caused by up-flow of hot materials through microflare events.
Firstly, we review the stellar chromospheric activity in the optical wavelength. Secondly, we introduce our ongoing project of multi-wavelength high--resolution optical observations aimed at studying the chromospheric activity of different RS CVn stars. Finally, we give our future perspectives.
The AM Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) binaries are a rare group of ultra-short period, mass-transferring white dwarf binaries, some of which may be Type Ia supernova progenitors. More than a third of the total known population of AM CVn binaries have been discovered via the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Here, we discuss our search for new AM CVns in the SDSS spectroscopic data base, and present two new AM CVns discovered in SDSS-III spectroscopy, SDSS J113732.32+405458.3 and SDSS J150551.58+065948.7. The AM CVn binaries exhibit a connection between their spectral appearance and their orbital pe…
We studied Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) light curves of 34 dwarf nova candidates discovered by All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) between 2020 May 12 and September 9 and found 6 AM CVn-type candidates. All objects showed short outbursts (post-superoutburst rebrightenings) on the fading tail. Two objects (ASASSN-20eq, ASASSN-20la) showed double superoutbursts. Three objects (ASASSN-20jt, ASASSN-20ke, and ASASSN-20lr) showed short superoutbursts (5-6 d). These features in the light curve can be used in discriminating AM CVn-type candidates from hydrogen-rich systems. In contras…
Recent work by Levitan et al has expanded the long-term photometric database for AM CVn stars. In particular, their outburst properties are well-correlated with orbital period, and allow constraints to be placed on the secular mass transfer rate between secondary and primary if one adopts the disk instability model for the outbursts. We use the observed range of outbursting behavior for AM CVn systems as a function of orbital period to place a constraint on mass transfer rate versus orbital period P. We infer a rate ~5 x 10^{-9} Msun/yr (P/1000 s)^{-5.2}. We show the functional form so obtaine…
We present new X-ray observations of the A0p stars alpha^2 CVn (log Lx < 26.0 erg/s) and IQ Aur (log Lx = 29.6 erg/s) and find that their X-ray luminosities differ by at least three orders of magnitude. IQ Aur possesses a strong cool plasma component with X-ray emitting regions located well above the stellar surface, but also significant amounts of hot plasma. Further, a large X-ray flare is detected from IQ Aur, implying the presence of magnetic reconnection. Our comparison study of similar stars indicates that the occurrence of X-ray emission generated by magnetically channelled wind shocks …
We present the first Doppler images of the prototypical active binary star RS CVn, derived from high-resolution spectra observed in 2004, 2016 and 2017, using three different telescopes and observing sites. We apply the least-squares deconvolution technique to all observed spectra to obtain high signal-to-noise line profiles, which are used to derive the surface images of the active K-type component. Our images show a complex spot pattern on the K star, distributed widely in longitude. All starspots revealed by our Doppler images are located below a latitude of about 70$^{\circ}$. In accordanc…
Coherent radio emission from stars can be used to constrain fundamental coronal plasma parameters, such as plasma density and magnetic field strength. It is also a probe of chromospheric and magnetospheric acceleration mechanisms. Close stellar binaries, such as RS Canum Venaticorum (RS CVn) systems, are particularly interesting as their heightened level of chromospheric activity and possible direct magnetic interaction make them a unique laboratory to study coronal and magnetospheric acceleration mechanisms. RS CVn binaries are known to be radio-bright but coherent radio emission has only con…
Further Investigation on Chromospheric Activity Patterns of the RS Canum Venaticorum Star V711 Tauri
Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院云南天文台）；Key Laboratory for the Structure and Evolution of Celestial Objects, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院天体结构与演化重点实验室）；International Centre of Supernovae, Yunnan Key Laboratory（国际超新星中心云南省重点实验室）；School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院大学天文与空间科学学院）
We present the first Doppler imaging study of the two rapidly rotating, single K-giants DP CVn and DI Psc in order to study the surface spot configuration and to pinpoint their stellar evolutionary status. Optical spectroscopy and photometry are used to determine the fundamental astrophysical properties. Doppler imaging is applied to recover the surface temperature distribution for both stars, while photometric light-curve inversions are carried out for studying the long-term changes of the surface activity of DP CVn. Surface differential rotation of DP CVn is estimated from cross-correlating …
We explore the outcome of mass transfer via Roche lobe overflow (RLOF) of $M_{\rm He}\lesssim0.51 M_\odot$ pure helium burning stars in close binaries with white dwarfs (WDs). The evolution is driven by the loss of angular momentum through gravitational wave radiation (GWR), and both stars are modeled using Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA). The donors have masses of $M_{\rm He}=0.35, 0.4, \&\ 0.51M_\odot$ and accrete onto WDs of mass $M_{\rm WD}$ from $0.6M_\odot$ to $1.26M_\odot$. The initial orbital periods ($P_{\rm{orb}}$) span 20 to 80 minutes. For all cases, the accr…
Strong organized magnetic fields have been studied in the upper main sequence chemically peculiar stars for more than half a century. However, only recently have observational methods and numerical techniques become sufficiently mature to allow us to record and interpret high-resolution four Stokes parameter spectra, leading to the first assumption-free magnetic field models of these stars. Here we present a detailed magnetic Doppler imaging analysis of the spectropolarimetric observations of the prototypical magnetic Ap star alpha^2 CVn. The surface abundance distributions of Fe and Cr and a …
Nearby, active stars with relatively rapid rotation and large starspot structures offer the opportunity to compare interferometric, spectroscopic, and photometric imaging techniques. In this paper, we image a spotted star with three different methods for the first time. The giant primary star of the RS Canum Venaticorum binary $σ$ Geminorum ($σ$ Gem) was imaged for two epochs of interferometric, high-resolution spectroscopic, and photometric observations. The light curves from the reconstructions show good agreement with the observed light curves, supported by the longitudinally-consistent spo…
Radio Properties of RS Canum Venaticorum Variables in VLASS and RACS
University of Alberta（阿尔伯塔大学）；Clemson University（克莱姆森大学）；University of Sydney（悉尼大学）；University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee（威斯康星大学密尔沃基分校）；Australian Telescope National Facility, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science（澳大利亚望远镜国家设施，CSIRO天文学与空间科学）
Studying RS CVn binaries is challenging, because in addition to spot activity, other effects such as mass transfer between the components and gravitational distortion of their spherical forms may distort their light curves. Such effects can, however, be removed from the data by subtracting a mean light curve phased with the orbital period. We study a quarter of a century of standard Johnson differential V photometry of the RS CVn binary BM CVn. Our main aims are to determine the activity cycles, the rate of surface differential rotation and the rotation period of the active longitudes of BM CV…
Fe Kα equivalent-width mapping with 3D radiative transfer calculation: A general model and application to the RS Canum Venaticorum-type stars with XRISM/Resolve
Kyoto University（京都大学）；Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)（日本宇宙航空研究开发机构空间科学研究所）；Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder（科罗拉多大学博尔德分校大气与空间物理实验室）；The University of Tokyo（东京大学）；RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research（理化学研究所前沿研究集群）
Alpha$^2$ Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) is a strongly magnetic star with peculiar chemical signatures and periodic variability that have been long attributed to the diffusion of magnetic elements through the photosphere, leading to chemical spots across the stellar surface. However, recent studies of other magnetic hot stars are consistent with magnetospheric clouds above the surface. Here we take a renewed approach to modeling AM CVn with a simplified dynamical magnetosphere (DM) and a tilted, offset magnetic dipole to reproduce its Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) variability. Our d…
WY Cancri is a short-period ($P$=0.829 d) eclipsing RS Canum Venaticorum stars, and both components are late-type stars. Recently, observations provided by photometric observations and light time minima show that the orbital period of WY Cancri is experiencing a secular decrease at a rate of ${\rm d} P/{\rm d}t=-1.2\times10^{-7}\rm d yr^{-1}$. In this Letter, we attempt to investigate if the period change of WY Cancri can originate from the angular momentum loss. In calculation, we assume that this source has a high wind loss rate of $\sim10^{-10} \rm M_{\odot} yr^{-1}$. To account for the obs…
The magnetic chemically peculiar (CP2) stars of the upper main sequence are well-suited for investigating the impact of magnetic fields on the surface layers of stars, which leads to abundance inhomogeneities (spots) resulting in photometric variability. The light changes are explained in terms of the oblique rotator model; the derived photometric periods thus correlate with the rotational periods of the stars. CP2 stars exhibiting this kind of variability are classified as alpha2 Canum Venaticorum (ACV) variables. We have analysed around 3 850 000 individual photometric WASP measurements of m…
The AM Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) binaries are a rare group of hydrogen-deficient, ultra-short period, mass-transferring white dwarf binaries, and are possible progenitors of type Ia supernovae. We present time-resolved spectroscopy of the recently-discovered AM CVn binary SDSS J173047.59+554518.5. The average spectrum shows strong double-peaked helium emission lines, as well as a variety of metal lines, including neon; this is the second detection of neon in an AM CVn binary, after the much brighter system GP Com. We detect no calcium in the accretion disc, a puzzling feature that has been no…
Angular momentum loss in ultracompact binaries, such as the AM Canum Venaticorum stars, is usually assumed to be due entirely to gravitational radiation. Motivated by the outflows observed in ultracompact binaries, we investigate whether magnetically coupled winds could in fact lead to substantial additional angular momentum losses. We remark that the scaling relations often invoked for the relative importance of gravitational and magnetic braking do not apply, and instead use simple non-empirical expressions for the braking rates. In order to remove significant angular momentum, the wind must…
Since the discovery of the spectral peculiarities of their prototype alpha2 Canum Venaticorum in 1897, the so-called ACV variables, which are comprised of several groups of chemically peculiar stars of the upper main sequence, have been the target of numerous photometric and spectroscopic studies. Especially for the brighter ACV variables, continuous observations over about a century are available, which are important to study long-term effects such as period changes or magnetic cycles in these objects. The present work presents an analysis of 165 Ap/CP2 and He-weak/CP4 stars using light curve…
The number of known variable stars has increased by several magnitudes over the last decade, and automated classification routines are becoming increasingly important to cope with this development. Here we show that the "upside-down CBH variables", which were proposed as a potentially new class of variable stars by Heinze et al. (2018) in the ATLAS First Catalogue of Variable Stars, are, at least to a high percentage, made up of alpha2 Canum Venaticorum (ACV) variables - that is, photometrically variable magnetic chemically peculiar (CP2/He-peculiar) stars - with distinct double-wave light cur…
The magnetic Ap or CP2 stars are natural atomic and magnetic laboratories and ideal testing grounds for the evaluation of model atmospheres. CP2 stars exhibiting photometric variability are traditionally referred to as alpha2 Canum Venaticorum (ACV) variables. Strictly periodic changes are observed in the spectra and brightness of these stars, which allow the derivation of rotational periods. Related to this group of objects are the He-weak (CP4) and He-rich stars, some of which are also known to undergo brightness changes due to rotational modulation. Increasing the sample size of known rotat…
Magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars exhibit complex atmospheres that allow the investigation of the interplay of atomic diffusion, magnetic fields, and stellar rotation. A non-uniform surface distribution of chemical elements and the non-alignment of the rotational and magnetic axes result in the variability of several observables. Photometrically variable mCP stars are referred to as alpha2 Canum Venaticorum (ACV) variables. The present work presents a case study of known variables from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) survey, with the aim of investigating the survey's suitability for…
Evidence of Long-Lived Powerful Gyrosynchrotron Radio Emission in the Close Binary FF UMa
Yunnan University（云南大学）；Chalmers University of Technology（查尔姆斯理工大学）；Sun Yat-Sen University（中山大学）；Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院上海天文台）；Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI), National Land Survey of Finland（芬兰国家土地测量局芬兰地理研究所）；Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院云南天文台）
The (magnetic) chemically peculiar (CP) stars of the upper main sequence are well-suited laboratories for investigating the influence of magnetic fields on the stellar surface because they produce abundance inhomogeneities (spots), which results in photometric variability that is explained in terms of the oblique rotator model. CP stars exhibiting this phenomenon are normally classified as alpha2 Canum Venaticorum (ACV) variables. It is important to increase the sample of known rotational periods among CP stars by discovering new ACV variables. The ASAS-3 data were cross-correlated with the Ca…
The evolutionary history of ultra-compact accreting binaries. I. Chemical abundances and formation channel of the eclipsing AM CVn system ZTF J225237.05-051917.4 from HST spectroscopy
Hamburg Observatory, University of Hamburg（汉堡天文台，汉堡大学）；European Southern Observatory（欧洲南方天文台）；Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Tech University（德克萨斯理工大学物理与天文学系）；Department of Physics, University of Warwick（华威大学物理系）；Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, University of Kiel（基尔大学理论物理与天体物理研究所）；São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Engineering and Sciences（圣保罗州立大学（UNESP）工程与科学学院）；The Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science（卡内基科学机构天文台）；Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara（加州大学圣塔芭芭拉分校物理系）；Departamento de Física, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María（费德里科·圣玛丽亚技术大学物理系）；Institute of Science and Technology Austria（奥地利科学技术研究所）；Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam（阿姆斯特丹大学安东·潘农克天文研究所）
